First Take’s tensions at all-time high with Molly Qerim ‘peacemaker’ and issues around Stephen A. Smith and Sharpe

FIRST Take has become one of the most successful studio shows in ESPN history thanks to its high drama in front of the cameras.

But ever-rising tensions behind the scenes are threatening to derail a show taken to dizzying heights by the star trio of Molly Qerim, Stephen A. Smith, and Shannon Sharpe.

According to well-placed sources, First Take is in danger of becoming a "war zone" with staff and on-air talent not seeing eye-to-eye.

And it is only Qerim's role as a peacemaker that is keeping the daily morning debate show a huge success.

Here is a look at some of the key issues that have plagued First Take in recent months.

'TWO-MAN BAND'

Smith and Sharpe have upset many First Take crew members amid high-stakes contract talks,.

According to a key production team member, the ESPN stars have turned the weekday show into a "two-man band" behind the scenes.

Stephen A., whose current deal with ESPN expires in 2025, is seeking an annual salary of $25 million, making him the highest-paid pundit on the network.

Meanwhile, Sharpe recently signed a new lucrative four-year contract with the World Wide Leader.

However, the duo's efforts to secure highly paid deals for themselves have caused huge friction with other team members.

"Many colleagues aren’t happy with the way [Stephen A.] has been behaving lately, pushing things for himself and Sharpe," the insider recently revealed to The U.S. Sun.

"...and trying to get them both the max deals and money they can get, without taking any consideration for the rest of the team and crew.

"Other journalists and crew people are really mad at him and Sharpe, as they feel like it’s a ‘two man band’ against the world, and the other people on the team are just here to do and follow what they want to do."

Many First Take staff are now seeking new jobs elsewhere at ESPN and at different media companies, it was claimed.

"That doesn’t work like that, it’s not nice and constructive for the show and for people that work in here," the insider added.

"And many of them are already considering quitting or looking for other jobs somewhere else or be put in other shows."

Stephen A. makes $12 million a year at ESPN from the five-year, $60 million deal he signed in late 2019.

He has reportedly been offered a new five-year contract worth $90 million—or $18 million a year—to remain at ESPN, with his contract expiring in 2025.

But the ESPN star is seeking an eye-opening deal worth $25 million a year, per Puck News.

Stephen A. Smith's journey through media

STEPHEN A. Smith is now the face of ESPN and an executive producer on First Take having initially started working for the company back in 2003.

Smith has held various roles with the network, including hosting radio shows, SportsCenter contributions, and appearing on NBA Countdown.

He was a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer from 1994 to 2010.

His began as an NBA writer before becoming a general sports columnist.

Before that, Smith worked as a reporter with Winston-Salem Journal, the Greensboro News, and the New York Daily News.

Stephen A. is determined to become the biggest earner at ESPN, eclipsing Monday Night Football announcers Troy Aikman and Joe Buck.

During these contract talks, Stephen A's behavior toward staff—as well as that of Sharpe—is also causing major friction.

"Some of the journalists and crew people already told the board that the tensions are all time high, and that the work vibe isn’t the best as some of the people of the crew are ignored by both Smith and Sharpe," the insider said.

"They don’t even say hi or thank you to most of them lately because of those many tensions."

'MAD DOG MAKES US MAD'

Meanwhile, there is a feeling that guest host Chris "Mad Dog" Russo is taking Stephen A.'s side behind the scenes, which has only inflamed bad feelings even more.

During an interview with Dan Patrick, the analyst thanked Stephen A. for helping him achieve a "little renaissance" in his career.

However, these comments are believed to have caused even more tension in the office.

"This kind of behavior and words show that he picked a side, the side of Stephen A. Smith over the rest of the team," a person close to the show told The U.S. Sun.

"It's very frustrating. We feel that we turned his back to the rest of the team and picked the side that helps him the most.

"There was no need for it, knowing the whole situation, and that puts even more tension on the whole situation.

"It's a move to put himself in the most comfortable side and situation.

"I feel a bit hurt, to be honest with you, and I don't know how to feel about him anymore."

The source also told The U.S. Sun they believed he should have thanked the whole team at First Take.

They added: "That is very frustrating, and that kind of thing looks to me like he puts himself in the 'King's' Stephen A. Smith favorites little circle."

As if this weren't enough, the source added that others shared this sentiment, saying that the interview "sounded like flattering for his own interest."

This shared opinion was evident in comments made to The U.S. Sun by another individual who works on the production.

First Take viewing figures

First Take went from strength to strength under the guidance of Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim last year.

The weekday ESPN debate show averaged 496,000 viewers in 2023 - making it the most-watched year in program history.

Its December average of 611,000 was a 24% year-on-year increase compared to 2022.

The show also reported more than 250 million views on YouTube.

First Take was helped by the addition of Shannon Sharpe alongside Smith and Qerim after he left Fox Sports' Undisputed.

They explained that Russo's interview has only added "fuel to the fire" regarding the existing issues.

The source called Russo's comments "very weird," noting that "the guys at the crew are very angry at this" before mirroring the opinion that this felt like a deliberate attempt to remain in Smith's good books.

"This move looks like he wants to position himself on the side of the ones that have the most influence on the show, and he rather take the side of Stephen A.," they told The U.S. Sun.

"Saying that in public shows clearly that he is an apple polisher, buttering Stephen A. up, but I am gonna be more direct: He is kissing Stephen A.'s a**, and that kind of message is clear from him knowing the whole tense situation at work.

"Mad Dog makes us mad, and that is very frustrating, we didn't need to have this kind of added tension to the current situation."

MOLLY THE PEACEMAKER

Qerim is known for keeping the peace and the conversations flowing live on First Take.

But the stunning sports broadcaster also plays a vital role off-camera – by preventing tensions from rising between cast and crew.

Qerim has carved out an illustrious career for herself in recent years as the moderator on First Take.

And The U.S. Sun has revealed that she has proven just as adept at keeping the peace behind the scenes.

"The tensions in the show are in all-time high, and a lot of people are fed up and tense, not feeling that that it’s a ‘family’ or not having a great experience working on that show for quite a while now," a journalist on First Take disclosed.

"Tensions are at an high, mostly because of Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe, and also with Chris Russo that is showing his true colors lately.

"But we are lucky to have someone like Molly Qerim to play an important role on not having the whole show explode or the whole work space being a war zone in a way."

Qerim is widely respected for repeatedly showing support and appreciation to the whole team and crew.

The First Take host also works hard to help individuals resolve their issues as adults by talking to each other.

"She is really, our peacemaker in many situations," the source added.

Qerim is even credited with keeping staff loyal to the show with her actions.

"She is always trying to appease, to solve situations and to create a nice vibe," the insider said.

Notably, Qerim has been known to confront the powerful duo of Stephen A. and Sharpe if she thinks they are stepping out of line.

"She is a very strong woman, a woman that knows what she wants and that doesn’t back down when Stephen A. or Shannon are being too much, are being too attacking or trying to make the situation even more tense than what it is already," an insider revealed.

Qerim has also been praised for her leadership skills by preventing a tense workplace from getting out of hand.

"She is someone who cares about people, and that doesn’t like people being treated badly or disrespected," a source on the production crew added.

"She has been like this since day one, and she has always been keeping the same approach, being the same nice and caring person."

Qerim is known for being a team player and setting an example in behaving towards colleagues on the set.

"She is a peacemaker, that is someone that everyone who thinks as a team respect a lot," the source said

"She is a natural leader, someone who has respect for the whole team and crew without any difference of work or status."